By Maile Matsimela
At the African Farming Production and Financial Matters Workshop held at the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market, farmers braved the rain to hear industry experts share insights on sustainable agricultural success. Among the standout presentations was Sylvester Lubambo’s compelling breakdown of what he calls “the four pillars” essential for farmers to thrive in today’s competitive market.
Lubambo, a development specialist at AFGRI Farmer Development (AFD), didn’t just offer theory but also provided a practical roadmap built from years of experience working with emerging commercial farmers across South Africa.
“Farming is not about luck,” Lubambo told the attentive audience. “It’s about building the right foundations that allow you to deal with challenges and capitalise on opportunities.”
The journey begins with proper training, but not the kind that keeps farmers in lecture halls. Lubambo emphasised that AFD’s approach centres around practical, experiential learning at their dedicated training farm near Hammanskraal in Pretoria North.
Lubambo stated firmly that they don’t believe in theoretical farmers. “Our training puts you in the field, on the tractor and in the soil. You learn by doing and making mistakes in a controlled environment where mistakes don’t cost you your livelihood,” he said.
Lubambo says the facility has become a learning laboratory where farmers develop essential skills, from basic tractor operation to specialised planting techniques before implementing them on their own farms. For many first-generation farmers, this hands-on experience provides the confidence that textbooks alone cannot offer.
The most passionate segment of Lubambo’s presentation came when discussing mentorship. He painted a vivid picture of the challenges facing first-generation commercial farmers, particularly those without family traditions to draw upon.
“Many black farmers are starting from scratch, without the benefit of generational knowledge transfer. So, rather than paying expensive ‘school fees’ through failures, our mentorship programme connects them with veterans who’ve already navigated these waters,” he said.
Lubambo stated that the mentorship approach is methodical. “Each farmer is paired with an experienced guide whose expertise aligns with the farmer’s specific goals. These relationships focus on both immediate challenges and long-term vision, helping farmers move strategically from their current reality to their aspirations.
“A good mentor shortens your learning curve by years,” Lubambo advised.
“They’ve seen the seasons change, they’ve weathered market fluctuations and they’ve made the mistakes you don’t have to repeat.”
Access to finance remains one of the most significant barriers for emerging farmers, a reality Lubambo addressed head-on. He described financing as “difficult terrain” that requires strategic navigation, particularly for those without substantial assets or established credit histories.
“We don’t just tell farmers to ‘go get funding’. We prepare them to be fundable by addressing the concerns that make financial institutions hesitant.”
This preparation includes rigorous financial literacy training that tackles common pitfalls: inadequate record-keeping, poor cash flow management, and the dangerous trap of high-interest personal loans. AFD works closely with farmers to develop credible business plans that speak the language financiers understand.
“A funder’s primary question is always about risk and our job is to help farmers demonstrate that they have the technical capability, market access and management systems to make their operation a sound investment,” Lubambo noted.
The final pillar brought everything full circle. Lubambo emphasised that all farming efforts must ultimately connect with viable markets.
“We’ve seen too many farmers produce beautiful crops that nobody wants to buy,” Lubambo shared, adding that success comes from understanding market demands first and then aligning your production accordingly.
He stressed the importance of building relationships with reputable market partners and understanding the quality standards these markets require. Technical capability – producing consistently high-quality products that meet or exceed market specifications – is essential for sustainable success.
“The market doesn’t care about your challenges. It cares about quality, consistency and reliability. Our role is to ensure farmers can deliver on all three.”
Proudly sponsored by RMIS Inclusive Growth | Ford | AFGRI | John Deere Financial | The City of Tshwane | Tshwane Fresh Produce Market
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